One of the reasons for considering Gwozdecky locked in to the college game, of course, is the distinction he claims as the only man to win a Division I NCAA championship as a player (Wisconsin), assistant coach (Michigan State) and as a head coach (twice at DU).

— Gwozdecky will be working under a head coach, Jon Cooper, whose unique background might explain thinking outside the box in hiring an assistant who never played or coached in pro hockey. The Canadian-born Cooper, 45, played four seasons of lacrosse, but only one season of hockey, at Hofstra and didn’t play pro hockey, either. In fact, he was an attorney in private practice until 2003, when he closed his practice and chased his coaching dream.

— The former Pioneers coach also will be working for Steve Yzerman, the Hall of Famer who was the other captain in the Detroit-Colorado rivalry and now is competing as an executive with former Avalanche captain Joe Sakic. They both wore No. 19 and have similar demeanors. The other assistant coach, Rick Bowness, is a former NHL player and head coach. “I am in 100 percent, absolutely 100 percent,” Gwozdecky said. “Obviously, we’re undefeated right now, so everything is great. This is something I’m really excited about, the opportunity, not only to be able to coach, but to work with these people. We’ve got some really, really quality people. I’ve never met Rick Bowness yet, but I’ve talked to him on the phone, and he’s a terrific guy. All these guys are very genuine, sincere, personable, down to earth. Steve Yzerman is as good as they come. He reminds me in some ways of Joe Sakic, he’s accomplished so much in his career, Stanley Cups and gold medals and Hockey Hall of Fame, you name it. He’s polite and respectful and down to earth, shows a guy that successful and accomplished can still be a really good person.”

— Gwozdecky said one of the calls he made while considering joining the Lightning was to Tampa Bay defenseman Matt Carle, who won the Hockey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA hockey under Gwozdecky at DU. He got a briefing from Carle, who endorsed the ownership and the organization. “The way he can handle these younger guys will be good,” Carle told the team’s web site. “It’s going to be exciting. I’m looking forward to playing for him again.”

— During his hiatus, Gwozdecky attended the NHL draft in New Jersey, but he said it was to touch base with friends in the game and because his wife, Bonnie, noticed hockey withdrawal setting in. “I had a lot of conversations with guys in the NHL, but at that point, it wasn’t really, gee, I want to get in the NHL,” he said. “I guess as I look back I was starting to at least get a little more warming up to the possibility.

“My initial thoughts and focus in April and probably throughout May was to really focus on seeing if I could put myself in a good, fitting position to coach in college hockey this fall. There were a few programs open, not a lot, but that was my plan. I had some calls from associates of mine who were working with NHL teams, asking me if I was interested, and said, geez, I don’t know if I am or not. Give me some time. But my focus was really getting back in the saddle at the college level.

“By the end of May it was pretty evident that unless something happened, at least the kind of fit I was looking for probably wasn’t going to develop. That’s when the TV networks started calling me and said let’s talk about this.”

— The Avalanche and Lightning meet twice in the upcoming season — January 25 at Tampa and March 2 at the Pepsi Center.